Andreas Schroeter
Hamburg/Germany, 24 July 2013 – GL Renewables Certification (GL RC) has been chosen by AMSC to conduct the A-Design Assessment of its 5.5MW full conversion offshore wind turbine (WT5000FC). The A-Design Assessment comprises a thorough evaluation of the turbine, ensuring that it meets the requirements of GL RC’s “Guideline for the Certification of Offshore Wind Turbines, Edition 2005”, which addresses the safety philosophy, quality assurance and engineering integrity of the turbine, and verifies that the turbine complies with the standard in terms of its load assumptions and design.
“Certification and design validation are essentially for technically reliable wind turbines”, explains Andreas Schroeter, Managing Director of GL RC. “Especially for complex offshore projects it is important that independent third party certification bodies confirm that a turbine can be expected to last for its planned lifetime.” AMSC’s turbine design uses an advanced electrical individual pitch control system design. It is available in 50 or 60Hz, for various climate conditions and in different hub heights, different rotor diameters and blade types, to meet all type classes.
New Offshore Guideline
Recently, GL RC published its new “Guideline for the Certification of Offshore Wind Turbines”, Edition 2012. The Guideline was compiled in cooperation with its Wind and Marine Energy Committee. The updated guideline tracks the main developments in the offshore wind industry, for example, the increased size of turbines and mitigation of loads using advanced, intelligent control systems. Every aspect of development from blade tip, to foundation and power export cable is considered and it also provides a fully integrated design and analysis concept for offshore wind turbines.
About AMSC
AMSC (NASDAQ: AMSC) generates the ideas, technologies and solutions that meet the world’s demand for smarter, cleaner … better energy. Through its Windtec Solutions(tm), AMSC provides wind turbine electronic controls and systems, designs and engineering services that reduce the cost of wind energy. Its Windtec Solutions enable manufacturers to launch best-in-class wind turbines quickly, effectively and profitably. Its controls and systems – ranging from converter and control cabinets to advanced software systems – are maximizing turbine availability, reliability and energy output for thousands of wind turbines worldwide. The company is also reducing the cost of wind energy by providing technology transfer of optimized electrical and mechanical wind turbine designs as well as component contract engineering services. AMSC and Windtec Solutions are trademarks or registered trademarks of American Superconductor Corporation.
About GL Renewables Certification
GL Renewables Certification has issued guidelines which cover testing conditions, safety systems and quality requirements, for both onshore and offshore installations, in a variety of technical fields. For owners, manufacturers, operators, supplier firms, investors, banks and insurance companies alike certification is an important prerequisite for safe, reliable and highly productive facilities. GL Renewables Certification has offices in Germany, UK, US, Canada, India and China, and employs 185 people worldwide.
